Trent Alexander-Arnold expresses his joy and pride while speaking Spanish during the unveiling at Real Madrid, where his shirt number was announced ahead of the Club World Cup.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player on Thursday, confirming he will don the number 12 shirt at the iconic Bernabeu.

The 26-year-old right-back is part of the Real squad set to fly to the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off this Sunday. In a nod to his new chapter, Alexander-Arnold will wear the shirt previously held by Eduardo Camavinga, following Marcelo’s departure from the club. Notably, his shirt will feature “Trent” on the back, a departure from the “Alexander-Arnold” he sported during his time at Liverpool.

The England international’s transition from Liverpool, which at times turned acrimonious, was marked by a grand unveiling at the Valdebebas Sports City in Madrid, where he signed a six-year contract. Alexander-Arnold expressed his excitement, calling the move a “dream come true.”

“This doesn’t happen every day. I’m very happy and proud to be here,” he stated. “I want to show Real Madrid fans how I play. I do realise I am signing for Real Madrid, the demands are high. I’m going to give my all for Real Madrid and the fans. I want to win many titles. I want to be a winner here and playing alongside the best players in the world. Hala Madrid.”

Before Alexander-Arnold took to the stage, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez addressed the crowd, stating, “You have chosen to play for Real Madrid because you know that this is the place where you can achieve even more glory. The supporters will have your back and give you energy and support whenever you need it the most.”

Perez continued, “At Real Madrid, you will be welcomed by what is a great family. What makes this club different is that this club is full of Real Madrid fans. The players support the club. Every title leads to the fight to win the next title. This club badge means so much. Teamwork, camaraderie, respect, solidarity. Soon you will see what Real Madrid means. Thank you, Trent Alexander-Arnold, for joining Real Madrid. Welcome to your new home.”

Later, Alexander-Arnold spoke to reporters, paying tribute to his former club, Liverpool. “The club gave me the opportunity to go and achieve all my dreams and I’ll forever be in debt to the club for that,” he reflected. “But, I thought it was the right moment for me. Being there 20 years, achieving everything that I wanted to. I feel like I’m mature, ready, experienced to go and be successful somewhere else.”

He added, “It was never a question of where. It was whether to go or not to go. I’ve probably known it for a long time. If I was to leave Liverpool it would only be to go to Real Madrid. It gets to a point where you’ve got to make a decision whether to go or to stay. Making that decision wasn’t an easy decision.”

Alexander-Arnold, who has been learning Spanish for “a few months,” also clarified the decision to have “Trent” on his new shirt. “When I travel to Europe, the whole name situation confuses a lot of people,” he explained. “People call me Arnold, people call me Alexander, people call me Alex, people call me Trent. There’s a lot that goes on. So I thought, let’s make it simple, let’s make it easy. Trent on the back, be known as Trent, that’s my name.”

Despite the excitement surrounding his move, Alexander-Arnold played down the influence of England teammate Jude Bellingham in his decision to switch from Merseyside to Madrid. “At the national team, he’s the only player who knew what it was like to be at Real Madrid,” he noted. “A lot of people think he played a huge part in me coming here but, to be honest, the club speaks for itself. It was a huge opportunity and the right time for me.”

Real Madrid will be looking for an upturn in fortunes under new head coach Xabi Alonso, who recently replaced Carlo Ancelotti. Alexander-Arnold was initially set to join as a free agent, but the Spanish giants paid Liverpool £10 million to release him from his contract early, allowing him to participate in the Club World Cup.

Real Madrid’s opening game in the revamped tournament is against Al Hilal next Wednesday. Notably, Alexander-Arnold faced boos from some Liverpool fans during their Premier League match against Arsenal at Anfield last month, reflecting some discontent over how he handled his departure.

During his time at Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold played a pivotal role in the club’s successes, including winning the UEFA Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020, marking their first league title in 30 years and their first in the Premier League era.